Vending-machine.



J. W. PATTERSON.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2. 19H.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I I l l J. W.- PATTERSON. VENDING MACHINE.

APPITICATION FILED MAY 2, I911.

Patented Dec. 5,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2 YNL NOHR's PEYKRS ca. pworo LIYHO wnnuvu roN, b. c

JAMES W. PATTERSON, 0F BRONXVILLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOSALES GUIVI AND CHOCOLATE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VENDING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMns W. PATTERSON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Bronxville, l Vestchester county, State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Vending-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to coin-controlled vending machines and has for its object the provision of a machine especially adapted for use in theaters or other places where it is necessary that the machine be as compact as possible so as not to form an obstruction.

Considered broadly in one of its aspects, the machine of my invention comprises a plurality of compartments provided each with locking mechanism so arranged that the same hand-operated part operates one or the other of said locking mechanisms to open the desired compartment upon the deposition of a coin in the coin-slot associated with that particular compartment. The locking mechanism for each compartment is automatically retained in unlocking position, and when in this position is obstructs the associated coin-entrance slot so that no coin may be deposited in that slot until the looking mechanism has been restored to initial position. This can only be done by means of a key which is in the custody of the person authorized to replenish the machine. The deposited coin is supported within the coinchute in such position that it forms an operative connection between the hand-operated part and the respective locking mechanisms for the lids. The coin remains in supported position within the casing of the machine until released by means of a special key.

Viewed in another aspect, my invention may be said to comprise, in a coin-controlled mechanism, the combination of two coopersting members positioned with respect to each other for the reception of a coin between them, and a device for supporting the deposited coin in operative position between said members. One of said members is a locking member and the other a hand-operated member for thrusting the deposited coin against the locking member to move the same into unlocking position. The coin is sustained on the supporting device after the operation of the parts and can only be released by moving the retaining device into releasing: position.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, rain. Serial No. 624,592.

My invention also comprehends details of construction which, together with the features above specified, will be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved vending machine; Fig. 2, is a rear elevation of the coin controlled mechanism removed from the front of the box; Fig. 3, is a sectional elevation of my improved vending machine; Fig. 4, is a vertical cross section on line g -y of Fig. 8; Fig. 5, is a vertical cross section on line ww of Fig. 3; and Fig. 6, is a plan view of my improved box in its closed and locked condition.

2, is the outer case and is divided by a vertical partition 3 to form the two parallel compartments 4. and 5 in which the vendible articles are placed, as indicated at 6. Ordinarily, these vendible articles are in paste-board box form to loosely fit the shape of the compartment and are supported upon ejecting springs 7 secured to the bottom of the compartments and adapted to project the article somewhat above the top of the case when released by the lid. In Fig. 3, the spring of the compartment 5, is shown as expanded and as having raised the vendible article 6. In Fig. 1, this vendible article 6 is shown as extending upward above the case and pushing the lid 8 in an upwardly inclined position so that the upper end of the vendible article 6 is exposed and may be grasped for removal from the compartment.

The compartments 4 and 5 have at their upper ends hinged lids 8, said lids being hinged at the rear of the box upon pins 9, about which are arranged coiled springs 10, for normally closing the lids into the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and in the left hand part of Fig. 3. These springs 10, are weaker in their action than the ejecting springs 7, so that when the lids 8 are unlocked by the coin actuated mechanism, the more powerful ejecting spring will overcome the spring 10 and force the lid 8 upward, as shown at the left hand part of Fig. 1. After the article has been removed and the influence of the spring 7 upon the spring 10 eliminated, the said spring 10 instantly snaps the lid closed. Moreover, the construction is such that after the lid has closed upon the empty compartment, the coin slot is obstructed so that a coin cannot be "deposited-w The mechanism for ac'com;

plishing these latter results will be described later on.

The coin actuated mechanism shown in Fig. 2 is formed in a face plate 15 which is fastened to the front of the case 2, and comprises tWo coin slots 24, having entrance apertures 22 and 23 respectively, there being one coin slot for each of the compartments, and said coin slot being arranged in front of the compartment whose lid is to be liberated. by the deposition of the coin in the corresponding slot. Thus the entrance slot 22 will correspond to the compartment 5, beingthe left hand compartment of Fig. 1 and the right hand compartment of Fig. 3, Whereas, the entrance slot 23 will correspond to the compartment 1, being the left hand compartment of Fig. 3 and right hand compartment of 'Fig. 1.

Arranged between the coin slots 24 is a vertical slide 18, which is provided with an operating knob 17 extending through a vertical; slot'16 in the face plate 15, the said plate being furthermore grooved as at 16 for receiving a properly shaped portion of the slide 18, to more accurately guide it in its vertical reciprocation. The lower end of this plate 18, is provided with a plunger 19 which presses downward upon a spring 21 arrangedwithin a guide 20. In the various figures, the slide 18 is shown as depressed to the fullest extent and in the act of operating the coin to release the lid of the compartment 5. The coin actuating slide 18 has the cam portion 18 which strikes the coin and pushes it sidewise when said slide is depressed. Normally, when the coin is deposited, it takes the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 within the coin slotand rests upon the retainer 33. W'hen the slide 18 is depressed, the coin is forced sidewise over the retainer and presses upon the toe piece 27 of the locking lever 25 to oscillate it about its pivot 26 and cause its locking part 13 to release the keeper 11 of the hinged lid. The releasing of the lid permits the spring 7, through the medium of the article 6, to force the lid upward, as indicated in Fig. 1. When the locking lever 25-is oscillated to the position indicated in the right hand part of Fig. 2, its heel 27 is engaged by a spring actuated pawl 29. A. spring 30 presses the pawl upward against the toe portion of the locking lever.

spring 28 operates upon the locking lever 25 to normally throw it into locking position, indicated at the left hand side of Fig. 2, When not otherwise prevented. When the coin operates upon the lever 25, it throws the heel 27 thereof farther than is necessary to engage the pawl 29, so that should the coin be discharged by operating the retainer 33, the locking lever 25 will move backward slightly to lock the keeper of the li but w thmaiesetena h P ts ereim t the deposition of a new coin, this latter being only possible when the resetting key 32 has been inserted in the slot 31 for depressing the pawl 29 and permitting the locking lever to be thrown to the position corresponding to what is shown at the left hand side of Fig. 2 under the action of the spring 28. hen this is done, the locking part 13 has been moved to one side of the coin slot entrance to form a clear passage way for the deposition of the coin. lVhen the locking lever 25 is in the position indicated at the right hand side of Fig. 2 or when engaged by the pawl 29, with or without the coin supported by the retainer, the locking part 13 will be in the path of the coin which might be deposited in the coin slot and would prevent its entrance therein. The locking part 13, therefore performs the dual function of acting as an obstruction to the deposition of the coin whenever the contents of the box has been removed, and as a bolt or looking part to the lid when the box contains the vendible article or when the article has been removed and the lid closed. It is not essential, however, that the part 13 shall lock the lid when closed upon an empty compartment, but it should act as an obstruction to the deposition of the coin at such time.

The retainer 33 may be formed of any of the usual constructions, and as shown, consists of a horizontal sliding piece forced into retaining position by a spring 31- and adapted to be moved out of retaining position to permit the coin to fall through the slot by a pivot lever 35, which may be actuated by a key 36, entered through a key slot 37. In some forms of the retainers, the lever 35 is controlled by tumblers in the well known form employed in looks. I have for example shown the operative mechanism for the retainer in the simplest form possible, but do not restrict myself thereto.

It will now be understood that to liberate an article from either compartment, the coin must be deposited into the slot entrance corresponding to said compartment. The deposited coin is then caused to be moved by the hand operated part common to both coin slots to operate the locking lever corresponding to the slot into which the coin is deposited for liberating the lid and permitting it to be forced upward by the vendible article. When the vendible article is removed, the lid automatically snaps shut and the coin slot is obstructed. I prefer to form the lid so that it shuts down into the compartment flush with or slightly below the upper surface of the case, keeping out the dust and dirt and imparting to the box a neat appearance. even when its contents are removed. The essential part is that the. coins cannot be deposited after the contents of the box have been removedand this lap may be secured with or without locking of the lids when the lOOX is empty. Ordinarily, the lids will not be looked as long as the coin remains in the coin slot supported by the retainer but when the coins are discharged,

the locking lever 25 may move slightly so as to lock the lids, if so desired. To replenish and relock the machine, the attendant first inserts the key 36 into the slot 37 for withdrawing the retaining bar 33 and releasing the coin. The magazine being restocked with the vendible article, the at tendant then inserts the key 32 to depress the pawl 29 and thereby release the locking lever 25 which is at once rocked into look ing position by the spring 28. The operated or lid-releasing position of the levers 25 is shown in the right half of Fig. 2, while the normal or locking position of the levers is shown in the left half of the figure.

WVhile I have herein described one specific embodiment including the various features which characterize my invention, I would have it understood that I do not intend to be limited to the structural details herein shown and described, as it is obvious that various changes and modifications may be resorted to by without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The feature of the automatic closing of the lid upon the removal of the article, is not claimed in this case, because it forms the subject matter cation, Serial No. 730,153, filed November 8, 1912, which is a division of the present case, and was made necessary by an oficial requirement for division.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a vending machine, a casing having two compartments for independently supporting vendible articles, a movable lid for each compartment, means for independently locking the lids in closed position, a single hand-operable device for actuating the de posited coin to operate either of said looking means, a separate coinslot for each compartment to guide the coin between said device and the respective locking means, whereby the lid of either compartment may be released by said common device through the medium of the deposited coin, a member independent of said locking means extending into each coin-slot to support the deposited coin in operative position between said device and the respective locking means, and means for operating said member to release the coin.

2. In a vending machine, a case having two compartments for independently supporting vendible articles, combined with a movable lid for each of the compartments, lockin'gmeans for-independently lockingthe those skilled in the artv of my co-pending applilids in closed position, coin actuating hand operated means for operating the locking means, separate coin slots for each of the compartments for locating the coin between the coin actuating hand operated device and the respective locking devices, whereby the lid of either compartment may be released by the common hand operated device after depositing the coin in the proper coin slot, a member extending into each coin-slot to support the deposited coin in operative position between said hand-operated means and the respective locking means, means for operating said member to release the deposited coin, and engaging devices for engaging the locking mechanism in position to obstruct the entrance to the corresponding coin slot, whereby a second coin cannot be deposited in the same slot until its engaging device has been manually released from engagement with the locking device.

/ 3. In a vending machine, a case having two compartments for independently sup porting vendible articles, combined with a movable lid for each of the compartments, locking means for independently locking the lids in closed position, springs to normally throw the locking devices into locking position for the lids, coin actuating hand operated means for operating the locking means, separate coin slots for each of the compartments for locating the coin between the coin actuating hand operated device and the respective locking devices, whereby the lid of either compartment may be released by the common hand operated device after depositing the coin in the proper coin slot, a member extending into each coin-slot to support the deposited coin in operative position between said hand-operated means and the respective locking means, means for operating said member to release the deposited coin, engaging devices for engaging the locking mechanism in position to obstruct the entrance to the corresponding coin slot whereby a second coin cannot be deposited in the same slot until its engaging device has been manually released from engagement with the locking device, and a key for coacting with the engaging devices for causing them to release the locking devices.

4. In a vending machine, the combination of a box having a plurality of compartments and separate coin slots for each of the compartments, separate lids for each of the compartments, a pivoted locking lever for each of the lids for locking the said lids in closed position and also for obstructing the deposition of coins in the coin slots, springs for normally throwing the pivoted locking levers into locking position, hand operated means common to all of the coin slots for actuating the pivoted locking levers by means of the coin to release the lids, horizontal ret'ainin'g means independent of said locking partments, separate lids for levers for limiting the downward movement of the coin whereby its direction of .movement is horizontal against the pivoted looking levers under the action of the hand operated devices, and manually controlled means for operating the retaining devices to release the coins from engagement with the locking levers.

5. In a vending machine, the combination of a boX having a plurality of compartments and separate coin slots for each of the comeach of the compartments, a pivoted locking lever for each of the lids for locking the said lids in closed position and also for obstructing the deposition of coins in the coin slots,isprings for normally throwing the pivoted locking levers into locking position, means engaging the locking levers when moved into their unlocking positions by the coin to hold them in locking position and obstruct the coin slots, a manually operated key for releasing the engaging devices from the locking levers, hand operated means common to all of the coin slots for actuating the pivoted locking levers by means of the coin to release the lids, retaining means for limiting the downward movement of the coin whereby its direction of movement' is against the pivoted locking levers under the action of the hand operated devices, and manually controlled means for operating the retaining devices to release the coins from engagement with the locking levers.

- 6. In a vending machine, the combination of a box having a plurality of compartments and separate com slots for each of the com partments, separate lids for each of the compartments, a pivoted locking lever for each "of the lids for locking the said lids in closed position and also for obstructing the deposition of coins in the coin slots, springs for normally throwing the pivoted locking levers into'locking position, engaging devices 'for the locking levers so constructed that the locking levers are retained in position to lock the lids and obstruct the coin passage, means for resetting the engaging devices for releasing the locking levers andpermitting them to be moved to their locking position and out of the coin slot whereby a coin may be deposited, hand operated means common to all of the coin slots for actuating the pivoted locking levers by means of the coin to release the lids, retaining means for limiting the downward movement of the coin whereby its direction of movement is against the pivoted locking levers under the action of the hand operated devices, and manually controlled means for operating the retaining devices to release the coins from engagement with the locking levers.

7. In a vending machine, a casing having a plurality of compartments and a separate ceimslot fo'r each coinpartment, aa-separatei lid for eachcompartment, means for separately locking each lid in closed position, a plurality of independent devices for retaining the locking means in unlocking position, said locking means being adapted to obstruct the respective coin-slots to prevent the deposition of a coin, a hand-operable device common to all of said coin-slots for operating said locking means through the medium of the deposited coin, a member extending into each coin-slot to support the deposited coin in operative position between said device and the respective locking means, and means for operating said member to release the coin.

8. In a coin-controlled machine, a casing provided with a passage for the deposited coin, said casing having a compartment and a lid therefor, a pivoted member spring-actuated to normally look said lid, a vertically reciprocable member adapted to be manually operated for thrusting the deposited coin against said locking member to rock the same into releasing position, a supporting bolt extending into said coin-passage to sustain the coin in operative position between said two members and direct the movement thereof against said locking member, and means for withdrawing said bolt to release the coin.

9. In a vending machine, a compartment having a coin slot, combined with a lid, a coin operated lock to unlock the lid, a spring operating upon the lock to lock the lid, a retaining device for supporting the coin in position for unlocking the lid. a hand operated part for moving the supported coin against the locking part, an automatic engaging device for automatically engaging the lock to hold it against the action of the spring in a position in which it not only unlocks the lid but also obstructs the entrance of a coin in the coin slot, a key for operating the engaging device for disengaging it from the look when resetting the machine, and a key operated mechanism for withdrawing the retaining device to liberate the coin and permit the locking device to assume a locking position.

10. In a vending machine, a plurality of compartments having a corresponding plurality of coin slots, combined with a, lid for each compartment, separate locks for independentlv locking the plurality of lids in closed positions and having parts extending into the respective coin slots, springs for moving the looks into locking positions, adjustable means associated with each lock for receiving the deposited coin and supporting the same in operative position with respect to said looks, a single hand operated coin moving device for moving the coins into engagement with the locks consisting of a reciprocating plate having anoperating parti extending -to the outside" rot-the case and provided on the inside with acent to the coin constructed shoulders adslot, said shoulders being and arranged to shift the coins horizontally over said supporting means, a spring for normally raising the said hand operated plate, said plate and spring being the plurality of coin slots locks, and means for operating said coinsupporting means to release the coin.

1. In a vending machine, a plurality of compartments having a corresponding plurality of coin slots, combined with a lid for each compartment, separate locks for inde pendently locking the plurality of lids in closed positions and having parts extending into the respective coin slots, springs for moving the locks into locking positions, a hand operated coin moving device for moving the coin into engagement with the locks consisting of a reciprocating plate having an operating part extending to the outside of the case and provided on the inside with shoulders adjacent to the coin slot, said shoulders arranged to operate upon the coins, a spring for normally raising the said hand operated plate, said plate and spring being common to all of the plurality of coin slots and locks, automatic means for each of the locks for retaining them in position to unlock the lid and form an obstruction to the entrance of a coin into the respective coin slots, and a key to disengage the automatic means from the locking devices.

12. In a coin-controlled machine, a casing provided with a passage for the deposited coin, said casing having a compartment and a lid therefor, a pivotally mounted member for normally locking said lid, a vertically slidable member adapted to be manually operated from the outside of the casing for thrusting the deposited coin against said locking member to rock the same into releasing position, a supporting bolt extending into said coin-passage to sustain the deposited coin in operative relation between said two members and direct the movement of the coin against said locking member, means independent of the coin to lock said id-locking member in operated position, said means being operable from the outside of the casing to release said locking member and permit restoring thereof to initial position, and means for withdrawing said bolt to release the coin.

13. In a coin-controlled machine, a casing provided with a coin-passageopen at both ends, a bolt extending into said passage to support the deposited coin, a movable locking member and a hand-operated member arranged upon opposite sides of said coinpassage, so that the deposited coin is held by said bolt between said members, whereby movement of said hand-operated member tl'opies 01 this patent may be forces the sustained coin over said bolt against said locking member to move the same into unlocking position, said locking member being adapted when in unlocking position to close said coin-passage against the entrance of another coin, and means for withdrawing said bolt to release the coin.

14. In a coin-controlled machine, a casing provided with a coin-passage open at both ends, a bolt extending into said coin-passage to support the deposited coin, a movable locking part, a movable member arranged at one side of said coin passage for controlling and operating said locking part into locking and unlocking position, a hand-operable device arranged upon the opposite side of said coin-passage, so that the deposited coin is held by said bolt between said member and said device, whereby movement of said device forces the sustained coin over said bolt against said operating member to move said part into unlocking position, said part being adapted when in unlocking position to close said coin-passage against the entrance of another coin, and means for withdrawing said bolt to release the coin.

15. In a coin-controlled machine, a casing provided with a coin-passage open at both ends, a bolt extending into said passage to support the deposited coin, a movable locking part, a pivoted lever arranged at one side of said passage for controlling and operating said locking part into locking and unlocking position, a hand-operable device arranged upon the opposite side of said coinpassage, so that the deposited coin is held by said bolt between said lever and said device, said device having a cam portion adapted to engage and thrust the sustained coin over said bolt against said lever to move said part into unlocking position, said part being adapted when in unlocking position to close said coin-passage against entrance of another coin, and means for withdrawing said bolt to release the coin.

16. In a coin-controlled machine, a casing provided with a coin-slot and a compartment, a lid or cover for said compartment, spring-pressed mechanism for normally locking said lid, hand-operated means for thrusting the deposited coin against said mechanism to operate the same into releasing position, and key-controlled means independent of the coin for automatically looking said mechanism in releasing position, said mechanism automatically closing said coin-slot when in releasing position.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

JAMES W. PATTERSON.

Witnesses:

A. J. IRVING, JOHN N. POHLEY.

Washington, D, QB 

